The impact of walking in different urban environments on brain activity in older people

Abstract

Neurourbanism looks to understand the relationship between urban environments and mental well-being and is well placed to assess the role of these environments on the urbanised and ageing global population. This study builds on research using mobile electroencephalography (EEG) to understand the impact of urban environments (busy, quiet and green urban spaces) on brain activity. Ninety-five older participants aged over 65 years undertook one of six walks in an urban neighbourhood, transitioning between two distinct environmental settings. This study explores changes in alpha (associated with relaxation) and beta (associated with attention) brain activity recorded during walking in differing urban environments. Neural activity significantly varies as participants walk between urban busy and green settings, with reduced levels of low beta activity in the green setting, suggesting attention changes consistent with Attention Restoration Theory. Levels of alpha activity significantly varied between the urban busy and the urban quiet settings, with increases in the urban busy setting. There were no significant differences in EEG activity between the urban green and urban quiet settings, suggesting that the magnitude of environmental contrast between the urban busy context and other urban settings is an important factor in understanding the effects of these spaces on brain activity.

The Urban Built Environment, Walking and Mental Health Outcomes Among Older Adults: A Pilot Study

“…Our results for HRV and heart rate suggest walking in green space activates the parasympathetic system and induces a calming effect. This finding is consistent with earlier research in non-laboratory settings showing a positive effect on stress regulation from exposure to green space outdoors (28) as well as increases in alpha brain activity associated with increased relaxation (25).…”

“…Our results for HRV and heart rate suggest walking in green space activates the parasympathetic system and induces a calming effect. This finding is consistent with earlier research in non-laboratory settings showing a positive effect on stress regulation from exposure to green space outdoors ( 28 ) as well as increases in alpha brain activity associated with increased relaxation ( 25 ). HRV is one of the most consistently and reliable measures of stress physiology in this field of research and, albeit in a small sample size, our results show promising findings for real-time stress monitoring in older people.…”

“…Living in areas with walkable green space is associated with increased life longevity in older urban citizens ( 22 , 23 ). Furthermore, walking in urban green space (“green exercise”) - as compared to urban busy districts - is associated with improved emotional well-being and mental alertness ( 24 , 25 ).…”

“…We tested the above hypotheses using the mechanism of a walk in two distinctly dichotomous environmental settings with different spatial and environmental characteristics: an urban “gray” walk in a busy, trafficked urban district vs. an urban “green” walk in a quieter residential district with front gardens, street trees and a pocket park. Using a walk as the outdoor exposure mechanism replicates tried and tested protocol in environment-health research ( 24 , 25 , 32 , 33 ).…”

The Mental Health Benefits of Purposeful Activities in Public Green Spaces in Urban and Semi-Urban Neighbourhoods: A Mixed-Methods Pilot and Proof of Concept Study

“…Population level analysis has shown that adults over 45 years have lower levels of distress if they are physically active in greener surroundings, but exposure to green space among those who do no or little activity has no impact on mental health [20]. Additionally, in-situ neuroimaging has shown that short walks in urban green spaces reduce neural activity associated with stress and increase activity associated with relaxed states [21]. It might be, therefore, that mental health benefits are dependent on physical activity in urban green space.…”